MINNEAPOLIS—On March 25, more than 350 Carlson Rezidor Hotels from Fiji to Brussels to Chicago participated in the annual worldwide Earth Hour, a worldwide movement encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses across the globe to turn off non-essential lights for an hour to raise awareness of the need to act on climate change. The Radisson Blu, Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites and Park Plaza hotels practice Earth Hour—an environmental initiative supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)—as an opportunity to engage with guests, employees and business partners to encourage energy savings by organizing several engaging activities...

As published on Green Lodging News, The Rezidor Hotel Group just published its Responsible Business Report 2016. For those of you not familiar with the company, Rezidor’s current core brands include Radisson Blu—the largest upper upscale brand in Europe—and Park Inn by Radisson. Radisson RED is another Rezidor brand. The report, 61 pages long, describes the most important corporate responsibility and sustainability aspects of the company’s operations. Last year was a good one for the company with it being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the eighth straight year by Ethisphere. The Rezidor Hotel Group also...

NATIONAL REPORT—Wood is a beautiful, industrious material. The logging industry has long been seen as an enemy of the environment. There is perhaps no other more iconic symbol of the green movement than a tree, so people naturally have a bad image of anything associated with destroying trees. While this characterization was largely accurate a century ago, the logging industry has changed. People involved in the industry are finding that their profits can be larger and more sustainable if they operate more like a farm than like a gold mine. That is, they can manage their operations in such a...

WHISTLER, B.C.—The United Nations declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, and Fairmont Chateau Whistler has followed suit this spring by introducing a new sustainability initiative. Working in collaboration with ‘Clean the World Canada since the start of the year, Fairmont Chateau Whistler is now diverting discarded soap and amenity bottled products from landfill and is now recycling and repurposing these materials. The repurposed product is being distributed to Canadians in need at local food banks and homeless shelters where the requirement of hygiene products is critical. Since inauguration of the program, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International has been named one of the 2017 NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). NAFE recognizes American corporations where women have significant clout to make the decisions that affect their company’s future and its bottom line. The NAFE top 60 companies are featured in the February/March issue of Working Mother magazine. “The NAFE Top 60 Companies for Executive Women are the leaders in the U.S. that have moved women into top executive positions and created a culture where talented women are nurtured, promoted and thrive,” says Betty Spence, President of NAFE. “We...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM—Green leader and hotel chain The Rezidor Hotel Group has published its Responsible Business Report. Included since 2010 in Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies List, Rezidor is committed to being an innovative and responsible hotel company with leading sustainable hotel brands such as Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson. Last year marked an important year globally with the ratification of the COP21 agreement in November and as the first year of implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals which are mobilizing businesses, industries and countries. The year marked an inspiring year for Responsible Business at Rezidor with successes...

Sustainability, like any major change initiative, is dependent on executive sponsorship, but the focus on top leadership buy-in can be skewed. Executive sponsorship is no doubt vital; projects without it have lackluster results and high resentment. So much time is invested wooing executives, but initiatives become watered down by the time they reach managers and frontline employees. This is where it becomes the “because I said so” methodology of change. Note that “I” may be replaced with the name that carries weight or power. If Steve is the CEO, then the mantra might become something like “well, Steve said this...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International recognized Earth Hour, the global effort to raise awareness of climate change, by dimming the exterior lights at 18 of its properties worldwide March 25. During the annual event, which is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, millions of people joined communities, businesses and iconic landmarks around the world in switching their lights off for one hour. The goal is to demonstrate the importance of energy conservation and to support action on climate change. Exterior lighting, rooftop signage, marquees and front features at all the MGM Resorts’ major Las Vegas resorts as well as MGM China in...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton today announced the launch of a global social media contest celebrating Earth Hour (8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 25)—the worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Building on the core theme of Earth Hour—turning off the lights for an hour to save energy—contestants are invited to submit a photo and caption showing how they celebrated the event. The grand prize includes travel and accommodation, including a five-night stay at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre in Iceland. The winner will enjoy the destination’s proximity to the Arctic Circle, as well...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oceana released a new report finding that shark-related dives in Florida generated more than $221 million in revenue and fueled over 3,700 jobs in 2016. The independent report, commissioned by Oceana, highlights the stark contrast between the value of sharks to Florida’s dive industry ($221 million) and the total U.S. shark fin export market ($1.03 million in 2015). “Shark-based tourism, which depends on healthy shark populations, is a lucrative and rapidly growing industry in the U.S. as more and more divers recognize the beauty and awe of swimming with these magnificent creatures,” said Oceana Campaign Director Lora Snyder. “In...